Type A personality have difficulties with Hypnobirthing/Hypnobabies?

Amores0121

I just contacted a doula yesterday....she is not actually available during my due date but gave me a bunch of information.  I told her of my hopes to do Hypnobabies, but haven't finalized the decision yet do to the mental illness disclaimer.  She told me she had never heard of that but that she had seen more success with Hypnobirthing than Hypnobabies and those who can take the class rather than do the homestudy.  She also mentioned that people who are more left-brained, controlling, and Type A personality seem to have more trouble with the hypnosis. They have trouble surrendering themselves.

I am definitely this type. So now I am wondering if this is really for me? She said she would recommend the Bradley method if I am that type.  Anyone have this type of personality and did not have trouble with hypnosis?

Amores0121

 

jennish11 said:

I can lean towards Type A at times. 
I am trying to learn a few methods for the big day because I've heard that no one method works for everyone.

Try taking a prenatal yoga class - the deep breathing and focus can help you let go of things and might help you with hypnobirthing techniques. 

Hypnobirthing is also only really successful if you practice.  So, even if you are Type A, I think if you are dedicated and practice, you should do well.

I also do prenatal yoga, although lately have only had time to do it once a week , and last time I really focused on the breathing and imagining it was breathing during labor. I found that very helpful.  However, I am worried about the amount of time the hypnobirthing takes.  I currently have 3 jobs, go to school P/T and have a DD. So I don't exactly have a lot of extra time!! LOL

Amores0121

@lbs2012 What about during transition/pushing?  Were you able to use it then?  The last few birth stories I have read have said that HB went out the window when it got to that stage. Which is also one of the things the doula said.

realmissjess

I took Hypno Birthing and would also consider myself Type A. During class, I was always the first to "wake up" from the relaxation exercises and there were some I just couldn't do, like one where you let your body go limp and your partner drops your wrist. I couldn't let him support it for me! I also know a home study would have been hard to take seriously.

But during my labor, I was able to turn on what I learned in class and practiced. I listened to the birthing affirmations for more than an hour in early labor. I called my midwife when my water broke and told her I was still waiting only contractions to get stronger. We met at the birth center an hour later and I was completely dilated - it surprised is both! Pushing was difficult because I felt like I wasn't making progress but it was manageable.

In addition to the Hypno Birthing class, I read lots of positive birth stories and watched documentaries, etc.

Edit to finish

ElTrain5

I'm also extremely anxiety prone and controlling.  The way I am approaching hypno babies is this....I'm not giving up control...I'm actually gaining more.  I'm not "surrendering" or "giving myself up" to someone else, I'm just going someplace else within my own mind.  I don't have to let go of my control of the situation, I just have to approach it in a totally different way.  It's like the example they give in the beginning of the book, about how when you take a drive that you take all the time and "zone out" so much that you don't even really remember the drive itself when you get to where you're going.  You were never NOT in control, you just subconsciously chose which part of your experience to focus, or not focus, on.  I'm looking at it as a challenge in self control, not a lack of it.  Granted, I'm only on week 2, so I may feel differently later, but I figure, even if it didn't work, it's certainly not going to hurt.  The home study book also touches on people who think they are doing it wrong because they feel restless or like they aren't "under" so much, which is totally me, but it goes on to say how that's not a sign you're doing anything wrong, and as long as you keep up with the practice, you are still training your subconscious mind. 

mlrafiki

Disagree with your doula, although I see where she's coming from. I didn't follow a specific program, but I did practice meditation using several recordings provided by my doula, and I found the Hypnobabies Affirmations on Grooveshark (score!). I practiced them nightly for months, especially in the last tri, and I did them in many positions: sitting on an exercise ball, lying in bed, walking slowly around the room. I actually feel like being mostly Type A was helpful to me, because it made me very focused. I kept falling asleep during the sessions, and that made me think I was doing it wrong, but then my doula assured me it actually meant I was in a deep meditative state!

During labor, I used these techniques and it made time pass quicker, because I could just focus on relaxing and block everything else out. I still wonder if it was this ability to release tension that contributed to my fast progression in labor (I was at 2cm for 9 hours, then BAM! 8cm, 10cm, baby in the span of 45min). I'll never know, but what I do know is that I got the natural birth I wanted, and practicing meditation helped! It's certainly worth a try! Good luck!

Amores0121

Thank you ladies for all your feedback! I really appreciate it!